Dental patients ask: ‘Why the X-rays?’

“My new patient was expressing doubt about the need for dental ­radiographs — X-rays — as part of her appointment to have her teeth cleaned.

“It’s just a cleaning,” she said. “Why do I have to get all those X-rays? I had some taken last year, and I don’t want that radiation exposure.”

Her reaction isn’t uncommon, ­especially for patients who remember the early days of dental radiology. Back then, lead aprons were required to ­protect patients from radiation.

Today, however, dental X-rays don’t expose patients to that same level of radiation. Dentists use digital processes now, and our equipment has continually improved over the years. Patients receive less radiation at a dental visit than they get spending a day at the beach or flying on an airplane.”

Great example of how an integrated health care organization - including dentists such as our very own Mailiki Patterson, DDS, are able to all contribute expertise toward Oregon's opioid crisis. Dr. Mailiki practices at Kaiser Permanente's Clackamas Dental Office and chairs our Peer Review Committee, which helps ensure PDA's 160 dentist and specialists continue following recommended clinical guidelines in the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to treat dental pain. ...

Way to go @OHSU for spearheading this legislation with @Oregon Dental Association. Thanks to PDA Dental Directors Felix Lee, DMD and Jim Smith, DMD for testifying during hearings last month. As part of a medical-dental integration pilot, Kaiser Permanente Dental provided more than 2,700 flu shots via LPNs in seven dental offices during a 4-month period last fall/winter. A definite convenience for patients, and just another way we're helping to merge medical and dental services for Kaiser Permanente members in the Northwest. ...